Puzzle`s Final Piece Is Missing Aau Team Of Stars Lacking Big Center

The select team he put together for the Amateur Athletic Union Junior Olympics Thursday through July 10 in Clovis, N.M., features three all-state players, including Piper`s Frances Savage and Ely`s Rena McMillon.

Van Pelt says it`s possibly the best 18-and-under girls` basketball team ever to be assembled in Florida.

But he isn`t predicting a national championship. Despite the above-average talents of McMillon on the wings and Savage playing low post, there is a flaw that will most likely prove fatal.

``We lack the real strong center,`` Van Pelt, girls` basketball coach at Coral Springs High, said after a practice last week. ``This team is, in my estimation, the best ever in the state. I feel that we can play respectable ball at the Junior Olympics, even without the big center, and my goal is to get into the top 10.``

The team doesn`t totally lack big players: 6-foot Sophia Witherspoon, of Fort Pierce Central, was an all-stater; Hallandale`s Sylvia Cummings is 6-1; and Savage, a Piper graduate who signed with the University of Miami, is 5-11 and can be more dominant inside than most 6-footers.

If this team were playing other Florida teams, the big girls would have little difficulty. But this team is playing the best teams and the best big centers in the United States, so Van Pelt had to be creative to compensate for his team`s weak spot.

``We`ll work with Sylvia and Frances in double posts,`` Van Pelt said. ``I think that the talent of those two can compensate for the lack of the big center.``

The rivalry between McMillon and Savage, two of the best high school girls` basketball players in Broward County history, became the stuff of legends. They say they enjoyed playing against each other, but also like playing together.

During one of the nine pretournament practices, the two superstars laughed and treated each other and everyone else as exactly that: everyone else.

Subduing the energy behind a group of stars isn`t easy. Van Pelt and his assistants must find the right combination of tempering egos without dulling brilliance. Fact is, Van Pelt and the other coaches might not have to do it at all; the players could be doing it themselves.

``I don`t think there`s such a thing as too much talent,`` Savage said. ``We know we all have talent, but we know we must control ourselves and play as a team. Personally, I know I`d much rather play with Rena than against her.``

Each starter on the 18-and-under team, and many of the starters on the 16- and-under team which is also making the trip, was the driving force behind the success of their high school teams, Van Pelt said. That means each girl is used to being leaders. Now, for one of the few times in their careers, they`ll play alongside peers of similar talent.

``The team is impressive,`` McMillon said. ``The talent speaks for itself. Everyone here knows how to play team ball, and everyone here knows that we must play team ball. We`re looking forward to seeing New Mexico, but we`re really looking to take first out there.``

As of late last week, the trip wasn`t a lock. Van Pelt figured $12,000 was needed for a proper trip. If the amount raised was closer to $9,000, the girls would be responsible for their meals.

McMillon said Monday that Van Pelt told the team at a Sunday practice that enough had been raised to make the trip. However, it was still not certain whether the team would travel by plane or bus. At any rate, the team will leave today, McMillon said.

Going into the weekend, the group had raised about $5,500. Contributions were continuing to come in from past projects, Van Pelt said, and the group had more car washes planned. Van Pelt was confident that enough money would be raised, but, ``everything will help.``

But Van Pelt didn`t really want to discuss funds. On his mind was the talent he had at his disposal, and would just might be if he could only add a dominant center.

``I am truly honored to coach a team like this,`` Van Pelt said. ``It`s a challenge to get the stars to play together as a team, and that`s what is fun. This team is so loaded with talent that I feel confident to say that if we had that dominant center, this would be a dominant college team.``